Litter collecting device



p 1962 R. R. MANDY ETAL 3,055,493

LITTER COLLECTING DEVICE Filed May 51, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 /NI/EN TORS 74 ROBERT P. MANDY BVW/LL/S L. K/BLER Fig.3 1 .zfiu

A TTORNE s Sept. 25,

Filed May 31, 1960 R. R. MANDY ETAL LITTER COLLECTING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ROBERT P. MANDY W/LL/S L. K/BLER A TTORNEYS R. R. MANDY ETAL LITTER COLLECTING DEVICE Sept. 25, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 31, 1960 /N VENTORS ROBERT R. MAND v WILL/5 LAlBLEl? Fig. 6

ATTORNEY-5 United States Patent flice 3,055,493 Patented Sept. 25, 1962 3,055,493 LITTER COLLECTING DEVICE Robert R. Mandy and Willis L. Kibler, Detroit, Mich, assignors to The Delman Company, Cookeville, Tenn., a corporation of Tennessee Filed May 31, 1960, Ser. No. 32,702 2 Claims. (Cl. 206-195) This invention relates to litter collecting devices adapted particularly for use in automobiles.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved litter collecting device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a litter collector having a novel structural arrangement whereby litter or refuse such as orange peels, banana peelings, crumpled-up paper, etc., in addition to cigarette and cigar ashes and butts, are quickly and easily removed from the passenger compartment to a receptacle.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a litter collector having a slidable receiving tray, within which the litter or refuse is placed, in direct communication with a receptacle for the refuse.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of a litter or refuse collector having a tray, within which the refuse is placed, with an open end slidable into the interior of a receptacle for receiving the refuse, and wherein .a vacuum is provided within the receptacle for evacuating the refuse from the tray.

Another object of this invention is to have a refuse collector wherein a refuse receiving tray is operable upon being retracted into the collector casing to open a normally closed valve for the application of a suction pressure to the interior of a receptacle for evacuating the refuse from the tray into the receptacle.

It is another object of this invention to provide a refuse collector with a slidable tray scalable, when retracted, at its front end to the casing of the collector so as to maintain a subatmospheric pressure about the encased interior of the tray, and with novel means for breaking the seal to permit an easy opening movement of the tray.

A further object of this invention is to provide a refuse collector which is easily attached to the instrument panel of an automobile, quickly releasable therefrom, and which has a receptacle for the refuse readily separable from the remainder of the refuse collector for emptying purposes.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of a refuse collector having an improved dual valve structure for maintaining a high vacuum within the collector regardless of engine acceleration.

These objects and other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of an automobile showing in elevation an embodiment of this invention attached thereto;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded view in perspective of the refuse collector of this invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view in perspective, further enlarged over FIG 2, of a valve unit of the refuse collector;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the assembled refuse collector, with certain par-ts broken away for the purpose of clarity;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, enlarged top plan view of the refuse collector, showing alternate positions of a lever mechanism for releasing the main part of the collector from its instrument panel mounting;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged horizontal cross sectional view taken along the line 66 in FIG. 4, and showing alternate retracted and extended positions of a tray unit;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 77 in FIG. 5, and showing the handle of the tray unit in a sealed position; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and showing the handle pivoted to a seal-breaking position.

Referring now to the drawings, the refuse collector of this invention is indicated generally at 10 in FIG. 1, and is shown attached to the underside of an instrument panel 11 of an automobile having a hood 12 and a windshield 13. The refuse collector 10 is fluid connected by a conduit 14 to the air intake 17 of the automobile intake manifold system. A T-connection 15 can be interposed in conduit 14 to direct suction pressure through a line 16 leading to a suction wiper motor 18 for oscillating a wiper 19 across the windshield 13.

In general, the refuse collector 10 comprises a mounting unit 21 (FIG. 2) adapted to be attached to the instrument panel 11, as by bolts 20 (FIG. I) inserted through holes 22 formed therein, a casing 23 releasably held by the mounting unit 21 and having a passage 24 (FIGS. 2 and 6) formed therethrough, and a U-shaped tray unit 26 (FIG. 2) which is open at the top 27 and at an inner end 28 thereof. The outer end 29 (FIG. 6) of the tray unit 26 is closed and has pivotally connected thereto a handle unit 30. The refuse collector It) includes further a receptacle 31 in the form of a glass jar attached by means of a bail 32 to the casing 23, a depending catch 33 (FIG. 4) being provided on the bottom side of the casing for the bail 32. A dual valve unit 34 (FIG. 3) is provided for communicating the suction pressure conduit 14 with the interior of the jar 31 and is mounted in a housing 36 (FIGS. 2 and 3) integral with the casing unit 23.

As will be described more in detail hereinafter, upon a manual pulling of the tray unit 26 from its full line retracted position of FIG. 6 to the dotted line extended position therein, where a portion of the tray unit 26 extends within the passenger compartment of the vehicle, refuse can be placed into the tray unit. In the extended position of the tray unit 26, the valve unit 34 is closed by coaction with the unit 26 to prevent the entry of air under atmospheric pressure from the open unit 26 into the intake manifold system through the conduit 14. Upon the tray unit 26 being pushed closed to its retracted position, the valve unit 34 opens in response to the closing movement of the tray, thus opening the interior of the receptacle 31 and the tray unit 26 to the suction conduit 14. By this arrangement, a subatmospheric pressure is applied within the jar 31, so that upon a subsequent opening movement of the tray unit 26, the refuse therein will be sucked into the jar 31.

The mounting unit 21 (FIGS. 2, 4 and 5) includes an inverted U-shaped yoke 37 one leg 38 of which has a filter unit 39 secured thereto and the other leg 41 of which has a cutout (not shown) formed in one edge for receiving a projection 42 (FIG. 5) on one side 40 of the casing 23. A flat, L-shaped lock arm 43 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is pivoted at 44-to the top of the yoke 37 and is biased in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, by a spring 46 connected between one end 47 of the arm 43 and the yoke 37. The bias provides for the other end 48 of the arm 43 being positioned between the top 49 (FIG. 4) of the casing 23 and a projection 51 (FIGS. 2 and 5) extended from the face 52 of the casing over the top 49. The counterclockwise movement of the lock arm 43 is limited by one end 53 of the projection 51 being integral with the casing top 49.

A flat mounting plate 54 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is secured parallel to and spaced from the top 49 of the casing 23 by rivets 56 and spacers 57 and has formed therein the holes 22 (FIG. 2) through which the mounting bolts 20 are inserted into the instrument panel 11. The filter unit 39 (FIGS. 2 and 6) includes an inlet coupling 58 having an inlet chamber 59 and an open housing 61 interconnected by a passage 62 to the chamber 59. The coupling face 60 (FIG. 6) of the chamber 59 is adapted to receive an outlet coupling 63 having a filter 64 and a seal 66 extended across the face 60.

A nozzle 67 is integral with the outlet coupling 63 and provides a fluid communication between the suction conduit 14 and the interior 68 (FIG. 6) of the coupling 63. Within the housing 61, a gasket 69 is inserted for a purpose hereinafter described. To releasably secure the outlet coupling 63 to the inlet coupling 58, a bail 71 is pivotally attached to the inlet coupling 58 for frictional engagement with the outer surface of the outlet coupling 63.

The casing 23, which is adapted to be releasably held by the mounting unit 21 in a manner particularly described hereinafter, includes an elongated body 72 (FIG. 2) rectangular in cross section and through which the passage 24 extends. Adjacent one end 73 of the body 72 and integral therewith is an annular plate 74 which is flanged to form a cap to receive the neck 76 (FIGS. 4 and 6) of the jar 31. A resilient washer 77 is inserted within the flanged plate 74 so that upon attaching the bail 32 to the catch 33, a tight seal will be provided between the jar neck 76 and the flanged plate 74.

At the other end 78 (FIG. 6) of the casing body 72, a chrome plate 79 is attached by means of tabs 81 on the plate 79 inserted through slits 82 formed in the casing face 52. A groove 83 (FIG. 6) is formed in one side 84 of the casing body 72 and runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the passage 24 and along substantially the entire length of the body 72. Referring to FIG. 6, an opening 86 is formed in the body side 84 and along the groove 83, which opening 86 communicates with an inlet valve chamber 87 encased by the housing 36 (FIGS. 3 and 6) integral with the casing body 72. A passage 89 is formed in the face 90 of the housing and which leads to a check valve chamber 91 formed by a relatively thin walled check valve housing 92 of a frustro-conical shape.

The check valve 93 assembled within the housing 92 comprises a seat 94 (FIGS. 3 and 6) movably inserted in and adapted to cover the passage 89, a barrel-shaped valve 95 in engagement with the seat 94, a coil spring 96 placed within the valve 95, and a retaining washer 97 engaged by the spring 96. Upon assembly of the casing 23 with the mounting unit 21, the washer 97 is forced by the spring 96 against the gasket 69 in the inlet coupling 58 whereby to seal the check valve chamber 91 from the atmosphere.

The inlet valve 98 assembled in the housing 36 includes a perforated valve plate 99 (FIGS. 3 and 6) having an arm 101 which extends through the opening 86 in the side 84 of the body 72, and into the groove 83. A valve 102 has a head 103 adapted to cover the passage 89, the body of the valve 102 being inserted through a central opening 104 in the plate 99 for securing the valve 102 to the plate. A filter screen 106 (FIG. 6) is mounted within the housing 36 on a seat 107 provided therefor, and a coil spring 108 is arranged between the valve plate 99 and the filter screen 106. By this arrangement, the valve plate 99 is biased toward a position where the valve 102 closes the passage 89.

The tray unit 26 includes the U-shaped drawer or tray 109 (FIGS. 2 and 6) which is reciprocally received within the passage 24 and which is of a longer length than the passage so that the inner end 105 (FIG. 6) of the tray 109 extends in the retracted position beyond the inner end of the casing body 72 and into the interior of the jar 31. A flat spring 110 (FIG. 6) is secured at one end 111 to one side wall 113 the tray 109 adjacent the inner end thereof and is biased so that the other end 112 of the spring is sprung in a direction away from the side 113. On the other side 80 of the tray 109, a projection 116 (FIG. 6) is formed thereon which rides in the groove 83 at all times. Hereinafter this projection 116 will be designated an actuator.

At the front or outer end 29 (FIGS. 6-8) of the tray 25 tion, as viewed in FIGS. 7 and 8.

109, a rectangular gasket 117 is provided which is adapted to cover the entire outer exposed end of the container face 52. A face plate 118 secures the gasket 117 to the tray front 29 by means of a cap screw 119 which is inserted through the tray front 29, the gasket 117, and into an internally threaded portion 120 of the face plate. A pair of journals 121 are formed on the sides of the face plate, and have a rod 122 rotatably inserted therethrough to which the handle 123 of the handle unit 30 is secured.

The handle 123 is U-shaped in cross section, having a slanted front Wall 124 (FIGS. 7 and 8), sides 126 (FIG. 6), and a top 127. The arrangement of the handle 123 is such that the finger of a persons hand can be inserted behind the front wall 124 and between the sides 126 to actuate the handle in a manner hereinafter described. A serrated edge 128 (FIG. 5) is formed adjacent the tray front 29 about the top and sides of the handle 123. A torsion spring 129 (FIG. 4) is mounted on the rod 122 between one journal 121 and a handle side 126, with one end 131 of the spring 129 against the face plate 118 and with the other end 132 of the spring 129 engaged in a boss 133 formed in an upper corner of the handle 123. By this arrangement, the torsion spring 129 biases the handle in a clockwise direc- A pair of flanges 134 formed on the inside of each side 126 of the handle 123 contact the face plate 118 and thereby provide limit means for normally maintaining the handle 123 in the position of FIG. 7.

In the operation of the refuse remover 10, the normal position of the tray unit 26 is best indicated in FIG. 6, where in full lines the tray unit 26 is shown in a closed or retracted position with the gasket 117 flush against the chrome plate 79 thus sealing off the interior of the jar 31, the casing body 72, and the tray unit 26 from the atmosphere. The seal is aided by the coaction of the free end 112 of the flat spring 110 with the inner end 73 of the casing body 72 at a side 40.

In this position of the tray unit 26, the actuator 116 is in engagement with the arm 101 of the inlet valve plate 99 to an extent that the valve plate is pushed rear- Wardly or inwardly and away from the valve passage 89 against the bias of the spring 108. Thus, with the combined valve seat 94 and valve 95 open on one side to the interior of the jar 31 and on the other side to the intake suction conduit 14, due to a pressure differential on the opposite sides, the check valve unit 93 is opened to communicate the interior of the jar 31 to the intake manifold suction conduit 14.

When pulling the tray unit 26 to the open position indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 6, the handle 123 initially pivots until the upper serrated edge 136 (FIG. 7) contacts and engages with the face 137 (FIG. 8) of the plate 79 to affect a fulcruming action between the handle and the plate 79, whereby the vacuum seal is easily broken and tray 109 readily pulls outwardly of the passage 124. The tray 109 is then movable to an open position limited by the actuator 116, engaging the end 138 (FIG. 6) of the groove 83. In this position of the tray unit 26, refuse can be placed within the tray 109.

When the tray unit 26 is moved from the dotted line position of FIG. 6 to the full line position therein so as to close and seal the tray unit 26 within the casing 23 and the jar 31, the actuator 116 engages the valve plate arm 101 so as to open the inlet valve 98 to the intake manifold system. By virtue of the subatmospheric pressure being applied equally within the confines of the refuse collector 10, the refuse inside the tray 109 is not moved. However, upon a subsequent opening of the tray unit 26 by breaking the vacuum seal, the air under atmospheric pressure rushing into the interior of the jar 31 will pull the refuse along with it and deposit it into the interior of the jar 31. As both the casing body inner end 73 defining the passage 24, and the inner end 105 of the tray unit 26 extend within the interior of the jar 31, it may readily be appreciated that a direct transfer of the refuse from the tray 109 into the jar 31 is thereby accomplished.

It should be noted that the flat spring 110 (FIG. 6) has a dual function. As the tray 109 is being pushed closed, when the curved portion 112' of the spring end 112 reaches the corner 73' of the tray end 73, at which point the tray gasket 117 is spaced slightly from the plate 79, the bias of the spring 110* will automatically snap the tray closed to effect a sealed closed position which is continually maintained by the spring 110. When the tray 109 is moved back and forth in the passage 24, the spring 110 (as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6) rides against the inner surface of the casing body wall 40, thus forcing the tray 109 toward the other casing body wall 84 and ensuring that the actuator 116 rides in the groove 83 so as to be able to contact the valve plate arm 101.

Referring to the check valve unit 93 (FIGS. 3 and 6), as mentioned hereinbefore, the valve 95 is normally closed when the tray unit 26 is in an opened position, and is open when the tray unit 26 is in a closed retracted position. When, however, the tray unit 26 remains closed for a period of time sufficient to permit an equalization of pressure on both sides of the valve 95, the spring 96 will force the valve 95 and the valve seat 94 to a position covering the passage 89 thus closing the valve. The import of this is that should a sudden acceleration be applied to the vehicle, the vacuum pressure within the jar 31 remains unchanged.

To separate the jar 31 and casing 23 from the mounting unit 21, the lock arm 43 is pivoted clockwise from the full line position of FIG. 5 so that the arm end 48 clears the projection 51, as shown by the dotted line position. The jar 31 and casing 23, held together by the bail 32, are then pulled as a unit rearwardly and downwardly to remove the check valve housing 92 from its nested position in the inlet coupling housing 61, and to slide the projection 42 (FIG. 5) from the cutout (not shown) in the side 40 of casing 23. The jar 31 and casing 23 unit can then be lowered from between the mounting unit legs 38 and 41. Then, by merely releasing the bail 32 (FIG. 4) from its frictional engagement with the catch 33, the jar 31 and the casing 23 can be separated for removal of refuse from the jar 31. The assembly procedure for the refuse collector is a reverse operation of the above described disassembly procedure.

In summary, a refuse collector is disclosed for use in a vehicle and in connection with the intake manifold system thereof. The collector includes structure particularly adapted for an automatic application of suction pressure to the receptacle of the collector at the appropriate time for a self-cleaning of the receiving tray, and wherein both the tray and the tray passage for transferring the refuse from the interior of the vehicle into the receptacle extend into the interior of the receptacle for the most direct and expeditious deposit of the refuse. Additionally, the entire interior of the collector including the interior of the casing, the receiving tray, and the receptacle is sealed from the atmosphere when the tray is closed,

so that continued combustion of any article such as a cigarette or cigar, placed in the receiving tray in a burning condition is prevented irrespective of its location within the collectors closed interior.

Although only a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be remembered that various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle having a source of suction pressure, a refuse collector comprising, casing means adapted to be mounted in said vehicle, tray means for holding refuse reciprocally mounted in said casing means and movable from a retracted position to an extended position partially outwardly of said casing means, receptacle means mounted on said casing means and open to said tray means for receiving refuse therefrom, and valve means fluid connecting said suction pressure source to said receptacle means, said valve means including a first valve unit movable from an open position to a closed position in response to movement respectively of said tray means from the retracted position to the extended position, and a second valve unit opposing the flow of fluid from said receptacle means to said suction pressure source and closing said fluid connection upon a pressure equilibrium being substantially attained between said receptacle means and said suction pressure source.

2. In a vehicle having a source of suction pressure, a refuse collector comprising, casing means adapted to be mounted in said vehicle, tray means for holding refuse reciprocally mounted in said casing means and movable from a retracted position to an extended position partially outwardly of said casing means, receptacle means mounted on said casing means and open to said tray means for receiving refuse therefrom, said casing means having an opening formed therein communicating the interior of said receptacle means to the suction pressure source, and valve means mounted on said casing means and including a pair of valve units one on each side of said opening, one said valve unit operable to move from an open position to a closed position in response to movement respectively of said tray means from the retracted position to the extended position, and the other of said valve units biased to close said fluid communication, said other valve unit movable to an open position in response to the flow of fluid therethrough from the interior of said receptacle means toward the suction pressure source, and, upon the opening of said one valve unit, movable to a closed position upon the substantial attainment of an equilibrium in pressure between the source of suction pressure and the interior of said receptacle means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,616,557 Gill et a1. Nov. 4, 1952 2,656,039 Leland Oct. 20, 1953 2,825,446 McDonald Mar. 4, 1958 2,851,155 Ellingsen et al. Sept. 9, 1958 2,891,662 Frost June 23, 1959 

